Consultation on council charges

Feedback is invited on plans to increase or bring in new charges for a number of services provided by Orkney Islands Council.

The proposals are aimed at generating additional income to help offset the need for budget cuts, says the OIC.

Views from residents, groups and communities are requested on plans to bring in new charges for:

• New and replacement refuse bins.
• Electric vehicle charging.
• Collecting and kennelling stray dogs.
• Planning permission amendments.
• An annual landing ticket for private aircraft landing at Council airfields.
• Caravans, motorhomes and tents using carparks and other Council land.
• Use of Travel Centre facilities by coaches.

Feedback is also invited on proposed increases to current charges for:
• Longer-than-permitted stays at car parks.
• Special collections and disposal of bulky household waste.
• Road closures for road works.

OIC Leader James Stockan said: “The Budget Simulator exercise we carried out two years ago indicated a willingness among the public to see fees and charges go up if this helped to prevent cuts to frontline services.

“It is never easy to make cuts to services that are valued by people. But we have to live within are means and cuts have been needed as the council’s own funding from government reduces.

“When we set OIC’s budget for the current financial year we decided that most of the existing fees and charges for council services should increase by at least 4%.

“The increased and new charges we are putting forward through this consultation are in addition to this.

“The aim is to help offset the need for future cuts. We are also taking a proactive approach to this by actively looking at new sources of income for the council by, for instance, investing in renewables.”

Full details of the proposed new and increased charges are available at www.orkney.gov.uk where you can pass on your views and comments via an online survey.

Paper copies of the survey are available from OIC customer services in Kirkwall and at the Warehouse Buildings in Stromness. Please return completed paper surveys to Directorate Business Support (FAO: fees and charges consultation), Development and Infrastructure, Orkney Islands Council, School Place, Kirkwall KW15 1NY.

The consultation will run until Friday, January 18.

If access to the on-line survey isn’t possible for you, feedback can also be provided by sending a letter to the address above or by email to developmentandinfrastructure@orkney.gov.uk

All views received through this consultation will be considered carefully by councillors before OIC’s budget is set for the year ahead.